Wandering the Palais-Royal
Paris tops the list as one of our favorite cities, in part because of the public spaces and gardens available to wander. We love the surrounding cities, but Paris is exceptional in its maintenance of gardens. Between the Tuileries, Luxembourg, and Palais Royal, Paris is a garden-lover’s dream.
We usually stay close to the area surrounding the Palais-Royal and so get to see it with every trip. Each time it is quiet, peaceful refuge. Surprisingly, it’s one of the least busy garden and a delight to cross on our way to site-see. The building has an incredible history - now the surrounding arcade is used by businesses and restaurants so it’s full of life later in the day when locals come to read a book, shop, or dine out.
We recommend going twice on every visit: Once in the morning, strolling through before the crowds and heat, and once in the evening, when it’s abuzz with locals meeting in the park or for an aperitif at a cafe. One one end is the Rue St. Honore and beyond that the Rue de Rivoli, so it’s very close to many attractions most people want to see.
Adjacent Attractions:
The Louvre
The Tuileries
Nearby Attractions:
Vendome, where Ritz Paris is located
Place de la Concorde, where the U.S. Embassy is located (and a site to see)
Champs Élysées
Palais Garnier, the Garnier Opera house featured in Phantom of the Opera
